National Republican., 1887-11-11
MANS BEST FRIEND
Suffering from Catarrhal Fever and
Chambers In this City.

Chambers In this City.
Those residents OF the District who are
80 fortunate as to own horse or horses
have been quietly feeling little worried
for month or more past and not few Of
them have finished their worrying and are
looking around sor new horses, the old ones
having finished their life's work-their
bodies have been hauled away In the gar
bage mans hearse, while their spirits, ac.
cording to the Indian legend, are reveling
In the clover pastures OF an equine etern-
ity.,
The trouble that has afflicted the horses
this fall has been principally Of q catarrhal
nature, accompanied by fever. How many
animals have suffered from the epidemic
can hardly be estimated, but the number OF
deaths that followed is q matter Of record.
For the past two months the sum total of
deceased horses is over l40, and of these
more than two thirds have fallen victims to
this catarrhal fever. The symptoms OF
coming trouble are generally very similar,
commencing with slight inflammation
by complete inability to swallow anything,
even water; the air passages are
all involved, and prostration soon follows.
The effect Of the attack on the animal is
very similar to that Of diphtheria on human
subjects, and unless the proper treatment
is speedily applied dea h ensues. The same
disease has had quite run In Cecil county,
Maryland, and the state authorities have
treated IL heroically wherever 1t was met
with. In Washington it seems to be
nobody's business, and horses have sick
ened and died without let or hindrance
other than that of owners or veterinary
surgeons. No effort has been made to
stamp out the contagion, aud 1t will proba-
bly, cease for lack of opportunity to COM
m nj n n q bn rpp
tious when the facts are more generally
known.
A few days ago DR.. Carroll Morgan, the
well.known medico Of this city, lost re.
markably fine and valuable horse from an
| affection that has so far puzzled the "vets'
and the knowing "horsey" men. The first
| symptoms OF indisposition were apparent In
the animals coat, and he was off his feed
| for week or more, continuing, however,
| to drive as well as ever. Suddenly, while
undergoing moderate exercise, he became
lame, and presented the appearance of
slight founder with complication that
seriously affected the use OF the right ell
bow. Five days later, when there was
every reason for believing that the ami
NAL was rapidly improving, he lost
| the use Of his hind legs and
| was, therefore, unable to rise; for three
day his condition renal ed unchanged, and
believing that nothing more could be done
for him he was shot 10y his owner A post
mortem examination, made a few hours
| after death, revealed an unlocked for con-
dition OF affairs; the lungs and heart were
healthy as were also all the contents
OF the abdominal cavity except
the kidneys, both Of which were
studded throughout with assesses, the
right kidney being In state of chronic in
fammation, very much contracted aud as
hard as vulcanized rubber. More than a
| %, L..
to be similarly affected and only one re-.
covered, he being nothing more than a
physical wreck. What the disease Is no one
seems to know.
Numerous cases OF glanders have gone
uncared for during the past month or SO,
and but one man has tried to do anything
to stop the spread Of that most infectious
and beast. The one man who ias done and
is doing all he can for both his fellow
beings and for the suffering animals is
| Agent Key, Of the Humane Society. He
has discovered many affected horses, de-
stroyed some, and had to let others go be-
cause he was not possessed Of the power to
hold them. On Wednesday he reported to
horse, pronounced 80 by DR.. Copper Curtis,
Of the bureau Of animal industry, had been
spirited away into Maryland-the third OF
the kind so disposed OF within ten days.
A number of citizens said yesterday that
Agent Key should either be supported in
his efforts to preserve the public health or
an officer should be appointed charged with
the execution Of that special duty.
"It would be an awful thing" remarked
a well-known stable keeper, 'if Col. Lud-
lows $500 horse should catch the glanders
from a common cart animal. Yet that is a
possibility SO long as diseased horses are
allowed to wander about the streets uncared
| forD